title: Liver pathology in collagen vascular disorders highlighting the vascular changes within portal tracts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Collagen vascular disorders (CVDs) are autoimmune disorders with multisystem involvement. Clinical liver involvement is not a characteristic feature though histological involvement could be frequent. Liver disease in CVDs could be the consequence of various factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to analyze the histological spectrum of liver in collagen vascular disorders (CVDs) at autopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six autopsy livers negative for hepatitis B or C virus were studied in CVD cases with no known association with chronic liver disease or vascular thrombosis or hematological disorder. Cirrhotic and normal livers were used as controls. The paired t-test, one-way ANOVA, and two-sided Dunnett t-test were used for comparison (< 0.05). None of the control cases showed any abnormal vessels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 21 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 7 rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 5 systemic sclerosis (SSc), and 3 polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) cases (M:F = 11:25, age range 23-60 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diffuse nodular regenerative hyperplasia of liver (NRHL) was seen in 10 cases, and 6 (5 SLE and 1 RA) had numerous abnormal thin-walled vessels in intermediate- and small-sized portal tracts with no vascular occlusion or inflammation. Moderate sized portal tracts showed more interface and lobular inflammation. The main portal vein and its major branches were normal. None of these six cases had increased transmainases (P>0.05). Most SLE cases had increased transaminases (P<0.05). No evidence of portal hypertension was seen in all except in one RA. Septicemia is known to be associated with raised transaminases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A rare pathology of conglomerate of abnormal vessels in intermediate- and small-sized portal system was observed co-existing with NRHL in CVDs. Raised liver enzyme with interface hepatitis in CVD may not necessarily warrant an overlap, as a similar feature could be observed in septicemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. kvaiphei2009@gmail.com
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vaiphei
authors.forename: Alka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.forename: Saroj Kant
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sinha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy; D003095:Collagen Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*